Entry for FF:Rakhi with Awards & Tag

This year I tied my niece Meenu's Rakhi to my nephew Kedar and made Ajwain Paratha, Aloo Tari and Kayari for dinner but didn't manage to click the pics! So here the Rakhi picture for my Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event. The last date for entry is 16th Aug 09 so send you entry soon.

Also can you guys give me some suggestion for Birthday get together dinner Menu? Indian food, simple and fast to prepare?

And here coming to the awards, received Kreative Blogger Award from Prasu, Raji, Suparna, Hema, Khaugiri, I love your Blog Award from Raji, Hema, One Lovely Blog Award from Hema. Thank U guys so much for sharing these wonderful awards to me I really appreciate.

The Kreativ Blogger award are having some rules …

1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated
   

So 7 things about myself.. Let's see if you find this interesting...

• I like to make friends.
• I'm not a morning person, so I can never wake up at 6am and I can never sleep at 9pm [ as per my DH]
• I started the blog just like that!
  
• I love street food, chat etc and I don't like chocolates much!
  

• My likes changes every now & then.
• I like to experiment with food, but my sis always saying now a days to cook usual thing when ever she come to our place :)
  
• I don't like anyone lying, specially when I give them chance to come out clean!
  

And here are some of the tags I received:

• What is your current obsession?

Blogging I guess

• What are you wearing today?

My fav. denim jeans and fav. black kurti ;)

• What’s for dinner?

No idea as of now.

• What’s the last thing you bought?

Some frames, lot of wood stuff, containers, and lot more from IKEA

• What are you listening to right now?

The more I see you from Micheal Buble

• What do you think about the person who tagged you?

All of them are cool and creative bloggers

• If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

I guess Delhi will do :)

• What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Cotton kurtis, sun block, sunglasses and tons of water

• If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

I'm still so stuck with my last week India trip, would like to go to India again!

• Which language do you want to learn?

French and Mandrian

• What’s your favourite quote?

Nobody's Perfect, I'm Nobody

• Who do you want to meet right now?

All my family members.

• What is your favourite colour?

None

• What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

Same, my denim jeans, black kurti and my wedding attire

• What is your dream job?

None, there are better things to dream than to think about job

• What’s your favourite magazine?

Reader Digest

• If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

Clark's sandal

• What do you consider a fashion faux pas? (faux pas mean error in etiquette.. )

To wear too many jewellery with western outfits

• Who are your style icons?

None

• Describe your personal style.?

Simple

• What are you going to do after this?

Continue browsing

• What are your favourite movies?

So many to list here

• What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Facewash, compact and burberry brit

• What inspires you?

Good suggestion, good work, encouraging words and aim to excel.

• Give us three styling tips that always work for you:

Know what's suits you, never overdo your makeup, try to keep it simple and comfortable.

• What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Look through my sis wardrobe or go shopping.

• Coffee or tea?

Tea

• What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Do something else, eat something sweet, listen to some gud music

• What is the meaning of your name?

Priti means Love/affection

• Which other blogs you love visiting?

There are so many out there.

• Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Rasmalai, Motichur laddu

• What's the best feeling?

To know you are special for someone.

• Who do you love most and why ?

I love my husband the most, there is no particular reason for that!

Here is my new question: Reason(s) for you to blog?

Respond and rework - answer the questions on your own blog, replace one
question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and
add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

So now it's time to award & tag others and I would like to share all the awards and tag with Vani, Sukanya, A2ZVegetarian Cuisine, Preeti, Rush, Mangala, Varsha, Suma Pls accept the awards and ignore the tag if you have done before.

Bittergourd in Tamarind Gravy from Rekha Blog

Bitter gourd means only two thing to me bitter gourd fry or stuffed version. But when Rekha post her version of bitter gourd in tamarind gravy I knew I had to try that and which I did. The result was awesome, too good for me but unfortunately DH doesn't like much of tamarind :-(...But whatever this was super yummy. I did little alteration to the original recipe, Rekha boiled the bittergourd in buttermilk, I skip that step and went for shortcut method ;) Thanks Rekha for the wonderful recipe.

Serving - 2 persons

Ingredients: [Orignial Recipe click here]

Bitter gourd - 1 large [ sliced]
Onion - 1 large [ chopped]
Tomato - 1 small [ chopped]
Garlic - 1tsp [ chopped]
Tamarind Pulp - 1 tbs
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Jaggery - 1/2 tsp [ grated/powder]
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 4-5 leaves
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tbs
Coriander leaves - few [ chopped]
Water


Method:

1. Chop onion, tomato and garlic. Peel bitter gourd and slice them in circle. Sprinkle little of turmeric powder and salt over bitter gourd pieces and keep aside for 5 to 10mins

2. Heat oil in a pan, add Asafoetida, cumin and mustard seeds allow them to crack. Add onion, garlic and curry leaves, fry until onion turns light brown.

3. Add turmeric and chilli powder mix well, now bitter gourd and cook for 2 mins. Add chopped tomato, salt and cook for another 2mins with lid on in medium flame.

4. Once the tomato mashed, add tamarind pulp and cook in low flame for 10-12mins. Add water if required, I added little water.

5. Add jaggery and mix well. Adjust salt if required. Cook for 3-4 more mins. Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Enjoly hot with rice.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2009

Wish you all Happy Raksha Bandhan, hope we all celebrate this day of love with our brothers and loved ones or at least call our brother(s)? I celebrated Rakhi on 2nd Aug itself since I was in India and tied rakhi to my brother, after so many years I got to tie a Rakhi!

Meanwhile below are some Rakhi snaps I shot during my shopping, but this year there was not fun n fare in Chennai otherwise we use to see so many shops selling rakhi but this year only few! So enjoy these pics and don't forget to send your entry for Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event soon. This post is my entry to the event :)

Some funky ones

Baigan Fry - Eggplant fry

Hope everyone is fine and ya I disappeared again. I went to India for a week, I did wanted to write a post and inform you all but work kept me too busy for that too :-(my trip was okie..one week is too short perhaps ;)....so here am back and this post was suppose to be for FIC- Bringal but I couldn't send it!... And before I forget lets come to award. It's a wonderful come back with many awards shower on me. Thanks you all, I wanted to post all the awards here but all the awards are coming with tags and it's too long (read am lazy to do tag now) so I'll post soon ;)

Baigan Bharta has many version with different names and with different type of eggplant. This version is one of the simple, easy and delicious. Surprising was my nephew doesn't like eggplant but he loved this baigan bharta and asked me to prepare again n again!

Serving: 2-3 persons

Ingredients:

Eggplant - 2 [if using long ones]
Redchilli Powder - 2tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp [ optional]
Salt - to taste
Oil - to stir fry

Method:

1. Wash and cut the eggplant in circle (immerse them in water immediately to avoid getting black patches)

2. Take out the pieces from water and pat dry. Sprinkle chilli, turmeric, coriander, salt and garam masala powder and leave it for 5mins (more than 5mins and the salt will start oozing water!)

3. In a flat pan or tawa sprinkle little oil and place eggplant pieces. Cook in slow or medium flame for 4-5 mines. Drizzle few drops of oil if required.

4. Flip other side of eggplant pieces and sprinkle little oil on top of them, cooking again in slow flame for 4-5 mins.

Our Eggplant Fry is ready.

Festive Food~Raksha Bandhan

Dear All,

Festive Food is back again with Raksha Bandhan event.

Last year myself and Purva started Festive Food Event to enjoy the joy and happiness of all the festivals around us and it has been wonderful year.

The bond between brother and sister celebrated in form of Rakshabandhan. I do not wish to repeat same thing again so for more details about Raksha Bandhan [Rakhi] please visit our last year announcement.

Coming to the event it's pity simple as all of our events. The purpose is to celebrate, do not think that you have a cook a dish to be part of this one.


Guidelines:

1. Send in pictures, memories which relates you to Rakhi.

2. You being creative made Rakhi, Card or any other thing? Send that too...I will be happy.

3. Send in your entry of celebration even if you have not prepared anything specify for the day. You can share your purchased Rakhi/sweets/gift etc details too.

4. If you did prepare something special [sweet dish, any main dish, savoury snack] for the occasion share with us.

So you got it? It's all about sharing...


Since Rakhi is on 5th Aug '09, last date to send your entry is 16th Aug '09.

• Old entries are accepted as long as you didn't sent the same last year and link back to this page.
  

• Please link back to this event announcement. I would be glad if you can include Logo. There are no restrictions on the number of entries.

• Send in your entries at [email protected] with below mentioned information:

* Your Name:

* Dish Name:

* Blog’s Name:

* Blog URL:

* Post URL:

* Picture(s):

• Non Bloggers no need to get upset, email your recipe along with the picture. I will post it on your name and include it in the round up.

Let's celebrate and share....

100th Post with Recipes Re-visit

It's my 100th post, and let me thanks again all my blog followers, readers, visitor and everyone of you cause of whom this blog is still up and running. Not to mention all the wonderful blogs around gives lots of inspiration too, do continue to visit this place and encourage me :)

I thought a lot what to post to make it special...I was still in fix then suddenly I remember my 50th Post...ahh that's perfect what else can be better than re-visiting our own recipes..isn't it?

So I thought of posting these 2 recipes which are in my collection for long :-)..First up is Dum Aloo, this recipe I adapted from my pressure cooker booklet and this one is super hit.  My BIL said...Dum Aloo mei Dum hai ..:)  So I do tell you all to try out this delicious and wonderful recipe.  Below is the picture when I made this first time.

Next up is Channa Jor Garam, after the 1st try now I always end up making the same instead of channa sabji as my DH like only the snack version now! Add your own spices and spice up evening with simple and healthy Channa Jor Garam

Thanks You All once again.

Festive Food- Summer Treat Roundup Part II

Hello guys, Hope all of you are well.  I'm back again with Festive Food: Summer Tread Round II, check roundup I here.  Here are some delicious, easy and simple to make recipes which we can enjoy during summer infact any time..check out the wonderful recipes we received for this roundup and enjoy.  Before I move over to the roundup thanks to all of you for sending all the yummy dishes.


Simple pachadi is all we need to complete the meal and that's what is send over by Sanghi of Sanghi's Food Delights easy and yummy Sweet Mango Pachadi, she love this pachadi and so do I.  Check her space for the recipe and enjoy.

Sailaja from Sailaja Kitchen has sent over Ragi Ambuli which is best to hot summer and to keep the body cool, it's a simple and very healthy recipe..now am thinking of buying Ragi too.

Here is one more Fermented Raagi Porridge (Raagi Koozhu) Kayal of Kayal's Kitchen which she too says it's good to keep quenching the thirst. Check out her way of making koozhu.

Shreya of Mom's Cooking sent us simple Jackfruit Thoran recipe which relates to her with lot of childhood memories...so here we are getting the essence of our event...to revise memories
and treaure them :-)....

Traditional Gujarati Kadhi anyone? Parita from Parita's World sent over her favoutire dish which is  ofcourse her mom's signature dish, yummy loooking kadhi and as she says we just need some hot khichdi to enjoy this...

Here is one more favorite here and this time Mosaru Vade from Ashaji of Foodie's Hope.  Vadas soaked in spicy curd is all we need in this summer rite..looks so yum.

One more curd dish is Mor Kootu from Usha from Usha Nandini's Recipes which she says she prepare in every summer, check the simple and easy recipe for some summer relief.

Mangai Pachadi making it's way from Hemamalini's Salt To Taste to our event, this pachadi is Hema's favorite and I see reasons why it can be ours too ;)...check her space for the simple recipe

Spiced Creamy Spinach is from Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes visit her post to learn this yummy recipe and to know various benefits of spinach

Refreshing Japanese style Chilled Sesame Udon Salad is all we need for summer says Priya, which is easy and quick to prepare.

And here is healthy, refreshing and yummy Dahi Beets Cutlet

Khatta Meetha Aam Aachar from Priyanka of Asan Khan try this yummy sweet and sour pickle with anything and everything...check the recipe at her space.

One more Sweet, Sour and Spicy Mango Chutney from Cham of Spice-club and Green mango Raita she made both the dishes in microwave..umm interesting isn't it ...check out her recipes to enjoy them.

Summer and no pickle? How can that be possible so here we have Tomato Pickle and Avakaya (Mango Pickle) simple and irresistible recipes from Srilakshmi of Annapurna

And next up is from ME simple, easy and quick to make Tomato Chutney/Dip

Thanks Again and wait for another part too :)

Chilli/Mirchi Pakoda

DH got this lovely chillies and the first thought came was to make chilli/mirchi pakoda and nothing else in my mind. This was the first time I made mirchi pakoda and I must say it was good. After searching for recipe here and there and I did exactly I do every time...experiment with my own ;) so I grab this and that and settle for few ingredients to prepare the pakoda...and it's different from any other ..read on to know the difference ;).

Okie before I move on..here it something...I made this masala from hand
picked ingredients and trust me it's so good and aromatic...I'm using it in different dishes to give the extra touch. Recipe is below ...try it out and let me know if you like it. Also I added rice flour in batter to give crispyness and the result was just as desired. Along with Chilli I made stuff bread pakoda which were yummy as well. I just manage to do some clicks as my nephew was so so eager to eat them ;)

Serving - 12-15 Pakodas

Ingredients:

For Pakoda:
Chillies - 12 pieces [as you required]
Bread - 3 pieces [ as you required]
Lemon - 1/2 piece or 1tbs juice
Salt - 1tbs
water - 2 cups
Oil - for deep fry
For Batter:

Chickpeas Flour - 1/2 cup
Rice Flour - 2 tbs
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1tsp
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp [ optional]
Salt - to taste
Hot Oil - 1tbs
Water - as required

For Stuffing:

Boiled Potato - 1 [ mashed]
Paneer - 1/2 Cup [crumbed]
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Salt - to taste

For Masala:

Coriander Seeds - 1tsp
Sesame Seeds - 1tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Carom/Ajwain Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek/Methi Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Dry Mango or Amchur Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cloves - 2
Cardamom - 1
Cinnamon - 1" stick

Method:


1. For Masala: Dry roast all the masala ingredients one item at a time just for 1 min or 2[except dry mango or amchur powder]. Let them to come room temperature and grind them along with dry mango/amchur coarse in mixi or grinder without any water, keep aside.

2. Wash and pat dry the chillies. To de-seed the chillies, make a slit in center of chilli using knief and remove all the seeds with hands or spoon. [ You might have burning sensation after de-seeding the chillies with hands]

3. Fill a large bowl with water, add half pieces lemon juice and 2tsp salt. Soak the de-seed chillies in this water for 10-15mins, after this pat dry them and keep aside.

4. Make thick batter using all the ingredients listed above mention for batter and leave it for 10mins if possible. This batter should be thicker than we make for other onion/potato pakodas.

5. In a bowl place all the stuffing ingredients and 2tbs of masala which we made at step 1, mix everything well.

6. Stuff the chillies one by one with the mixture prepared in above step[5].

7. In a pan or wok heat oil. Dip stuffed chilli in batter and coat the batter nicely all over chilli.

8. Slowly place this coated chilli in hot oil and deep fry them until golden brown. Place in the kitchen towel.

9. For bread pakoda, cut the bread in half. Take a a piece and soak in water for 2-3 secs or just sprinkle some water. Place 1/2 tbs of stuffing in one corner and cover it with the other side of the bread, apply water over the bread edges and seal them. Dip them in batter and deep fry until golden brown.

Have a another look

Hot pakodas with Tea and enjoy your day :-) This yummy pakodas goes to JFI-Chilli Event at Cardamom, started by Indira of Mahanandi

And to Shanti's Lovely winter Recipes

Mango pancake with Pear Stuffing

This recipe is result of R&D which I was planning for a while so here comes Mango Pancake with pear stuffing.  I usually making pan cakes every now and then and use wheat flour instead of all purpose flour.

Serving - 8-10 small pancakes
Ingredients:

For Pan Cake

Wheat Flour - 1 cup
Mango Pulp - 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup [according to taste]
Cashew/Pista - few [ optional]


For Stuffing

Pear - 1/2 cup chopped
Butter - 1tsp
Sugar/Honey - 2 tbs
Water - 1 /2 cup

Method:

1. Wash, peel and dice the pear.

2. In a pan melt butter add the chopped pear and fry for 2mins.

3. Now add the sugar or honey with 1/2 cup water.

4. Cook on high for 5 mins or until the pear turn soft and keep aside.

5. In a blender or mixi add mango pulp/chunks, milk, sugar, cashew and pista and beat for 2 mins.
 
6. In a bowl add flour, blended puree and mix well.  Add water if required to make batter like dosa/pancake.

7.  In a hot tawa/pan/griller pour 1/2cup of the batter to make small pancake.  Apply little oil or butter in corner and cook both sides for 2 mins each.

8. Place 1tsp of pear in center of pancake fold then into half.  Have it with Maple Syrup.

This goes to Srivalli's Mango Mela

To Divya's Show me your Breakfast

Srilekha's EFM Theme - Breakfast Series

Lore's Original Recipes